The Aikido dojo I attend has been teaching us several "well known" Jo kata, such as the 13 and the 31. However they are not the "accepting", "non-initiating", "unbalancing" martial art that I have come to associate with Aikido. Jodo seems way more wham-bam-spear-and-pound.

It seems every time we have a seminar and the visiting Sensei does "weapons" (bokken and Jo, usually) he has his own version of the Jo Kata with 31 moves. Is there an "official" version?

My bad. Every time I go to class the 31 move Jo kata has been "edited". I hope sometime soon they settle on one sequence at least for moves 20, 21 and 22. My old legs have trouble with move 21 (get outta Dodge).

Good question! I've only ever learnt the first part of the Tomiki/Shodokan Jo kata. I don't know if that is the same or different from other Jo kata though! I understand the issue though; people showing the the same kata done 100 different ways can be confusing!

Shindo Muso ryu is the school that created the use of the jo. According to their history, it was supposedly created by Muso Gonnosuke in the early 1700's after being defeated with swords by Miyamoto Musashi. The kata of the Shindo Muso ryu are an "official" version. In 1969, a 'seitei' or 'common' set of jodo kata were introduced by the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei for use by their folks. These were very similar to the original SMR jo kata, but there are differences. This could also be considered an 'official' version. Anything else that is out there has been created by someone that has either done ZNKR jodo or Shindo Muso ryu jodo. I am unaware of anything 'official', but most aikido dojo will do some version of jo work as they almost all do some version of sword work. I learned a couple of (very) different jo kata from a couple of different aikido dojo. Haven't yet had the opportunity to learn any SMR jo yet.

Sorry, that's probably way more non-answer information than you wanted.

This weekend I took part in a weapons oriented Aikido seminar. Jo and Bokken were featured. This included several sets of Jo vs. Bokken. (The term for this combination escaped me. Sorry.)Also there were some forms with Bokken vs Bokken. The detail that really threw me was to see Bokken used edge to edge in blocking, a thing that I had never seen done with a Katana. Apparently Bokken is becoming recognized as a weapon in its own right instead of merely a wooden stand-in for a metal blade, with Shomen starting with a far dropped back tip, Kendo Shinai style.

So far no answers. sighOur instructor has branched out into Kumi Jo, the Jo vs. Bokken combination I mentioned last August.Apparently there are eight sets of paired action, each longer and more complicated that the last. He is well versed in both sides, but as he is the only person we know familiar with the Bokken side, the Jo side is lacking a decent "visible" target.I guess patience is the only answer.Currently I am battling it out with the #11 move combo of the third set:

You've got your opponent worried. You rise from a low block NE (#10) to stand facing him with your Jo E-W at waist. With your right foot, step CW due S and bring up the N Jo end to block his move.Let go your left hand. Pivot your right wrist swinging the Jo CCW down, back and vertical, where you catch the butt with your left hand. Shift right grip thumb up.

#12 you strike down on his head. #13 You bring the Jo tip CW under his weapon and thrust. You win.